Seventh Sunday of Ordinary time (B)The Faith that show what God really is

Capernaum was at that time an important commercial city. It was the
city of Sts. Peter and James. Jesus had difficulties preaching there. Jesus
was preaching in one of the houses in Capernaum. People were all
around and every where. Among them was a paralyzed man, who believed
Jesus could cure him. His family had brought him there. But
there was no way to get to Jesus. But he insisted, “I want to be
healed by Jesus, he can do it, he will do it for me, just get me to him”.
The Paralytic kept on insisting. They could not resist him. They
had to find a way, any way. They tried to speak to people, nobody listened.
This unwanted paralytic, the uncared for was not important for them. There
was no place for such people as far as they were concerned. The only way
was to open the roof above and let the paralytic down in front of Jesus.

The Gospel says: "When Jesus saw their faith" (yes, the faith of the
Paralytic and the faith of the people who brought him to Jesus), he did
two important things to that man.
First, Jesus forgave his sins and showed who he really is. St. John
Chrysostom (c. 347-407), a well known father of the Church commenting on
this, said: "The Scribes asserted that only God forgives sins, Jesus showed
that he has also the power that belongs to God alone." He showed
them in Capernaum, this city that had difficulties, as the Gospel tells
us, to believe in Jesus, what he really is.
Second, Jesus healed the Paralytic as a proof of who really he is:
St. John continues saying: "Obviously, it is easier to heal the body. Indeed,
as far as the soul is above the body, so far does the forgiveness of sins
surpass physical healing. However, since the one is invisible, but the
other is visible, Jesus grants as well this lesser visible miracle as proof
of the one which is greater but invisible."
Do you see with me the power of faith? Faith shows what God is
really for you. Faith cleans you. Faith heals you. Faith teaches
you and the people who will see the power of God. Faith changes hearts
and converts people. Faith will send you in mission to be an apostle of
the true God.
William Ellery Channing said: Faith is love taking the form of aspiration.
And John Greenleaf Whittler said: When faith is lost, when honor dies,
the man is dead.